Stockpiles of excess, poorly-secured, or otherwise at-risk conventional weapons continue to pose a challenge to peace and prosperity worldwide. In the wrong hands, SA/LW fuel political instability and violence, while more advanced conventional weapons, such as MANPADS, pose a serious threat to international security. Aging munitions stockpiles may also explode without warning, devastating nearby population centers. Meanwhile, landmines and ERW, including cluster munition remnants, artillery shells, and mortars, continue to kill and maim people even after conflicts end.

Thousands of vulnerable migrants are facing a cold and dangerous journey across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and are in desperate need of support, as are many host communities. The Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are responding.

This Emergency Appeal seeks a total of some 3.3 million Swiss francs to enable the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support the Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RCSBiH) to deliver assistance and support to up to 7,600 migrants every two weeks for a period of 12 months, as well as 1,500 households from local community for a period of two months, with a focus on the following areas of focus and strategies of implementation: shelter (Non-Food Items – NFIs), livelihoods and basic needs, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Protection, …

Over 22 370 detected refugees, asylum seekers and migrants have passed through Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) since the beginning of the year. An estimated 6 000 are still in-country, with 3 500 - 4 000 in need of assistance. With the onset of winter, these individuals are in dire need.

Togerther with partners, DG ECHO has launched a winterisation action plan. Those living in sub-standard conditions have been relocated to winterised facilities. Vouchers for hostels are provided to the most vulnerable as well as non-food items such as jackets, shoes and blankets.

UNHCR has long upheld age, gender and diversity (AGD) mainstreaming as an essential approach to understand and respond to the needs of all persons of concern. UNHCR makes considerable efforts in Europe to integrate AGD considerations both in operational planning, programme implementation and while engaging with governments in protection, advocacy and legal interventions. This report highlights a range of initiatives across the region in 2017 and 2018 to illustrate this.

The European Commission has committed an additional € 500 000 to continue assisting the most vulnerable refugees and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This additional funding brings EU humanitarian assistance in the Western Balkans to € 31 million since the start of the refugee crisis in 2015, including € 2 million for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2018.

On 14 November, a young man from Syria died in the hospital in Belgrade despite receiving all possible treatment, as reportedly he had not been able to properly treat an injury sustained on the way to Serbia, resulting in major complications. This is yet another example illustrating the dangers of the current situation of mixed movements of people.

Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 104,029 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2018 through 18 November. Spain topped 50,911 – more irregular arrivals to Spain through 45 weeks of 2018 than all arrivals during the past three years combined (See Table 6).

Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 103,347 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2018 through 14 November. Spain topped 50,440 – more irregular arrivals to Spain through 45 weeks of 2018 than all arrivals during the past three years combined.

This marks the fifth straight year arrivals of irregular migrants and refugees have topped the 100,000 mark, although this year’s totals are low compared to those at this time in 2017 (156,708) and 2016 (343,158).

With an impressive development progress over the past two decades, the countries of the Europe and Central Asia region (ECA) are primed for significant economic and social growth. Climate change, however, threatens to undermine decades of development gains and put at risk efforts to eradicate poverty. Tackling climate change must be central to efforts to reduce poverty and sustain development.

Sarajevo – With elevated numbers of migrants and refugees entering Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2017, the European Union has just allocated more than EUR 7.2 million in grants to support the work of the UN Migration Agency, IOM, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The funds were provided through an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance special measure. Resultant projects will be implemented by IOM in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF to help further strengthen the country's migration management, asylum, border control and surveillance capacities.